Buffing wheel



May 22, 1951 A. B. STAFFORD 2,553,793

BUFFING WHEEL Filed Aug. 24, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l EEE May 22, 1951 A. B. STAFFORD 2,553,793

BUFFING WHEEL Filed Aug. 24, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

Patented May 22, T195i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BUFFING WHEEL Arthur B. Staiord, Forest Hills, N. Y., assignor to Ajax Bu Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois 5 Claims.

This invention relates to a buflimg wheel and method of making the same, and more particularly to a bufng wheel in which a cl-oth buffer is adapted to be rotatably disposed on a shaft by means of a hub assembly to present a flexible buiiing surface, and to methods for making such bung wheels.

Cloth bung wheels, as heretofore employed, comprise generally an annular buffer formed of a plurality of fabric layers secured to a hub. In one common form, the hub construction consists of a pair of annular rings adapted to be mounted on either side of the buffer, each of the rings lbeing provided with sharpened teeth about its outer periphery. These teeth are bent inwardly toward each other tc bite into the cloth layers without passing entirely through the buffer to maintain the cloth layers in position about the rings. A separate, centrally apertured circular plate, sized to t tightly within one of the annular rings, is adapted to be mounted on a shaft or arbor. A pair of separate embossed mounting disks, of a diameter approximately equal to that of the annular ring, are provided to abut either side of the circular plates to maintain the complete buing wheel in position upon a shaft or arbor.

The disadvantages residing in the complicated buifmg wheels heretofore employed have been appreciated by those skilled in the art, and many attempts have been made to provide more simple bufling wheel structures. However, the expedients of the prior art have proven unsatisfactory because of their complexity, the expense of making the hub assembly, and the difficulty of firmly l,

securing the cloth builing layers to the hub.

The present invention now provides an improved type of buing wheel in which a cloth buffer in secured to a wheel hub by positive clamping means. The builing wheel of the present invention is simple in design and manufacture, and the cloth buffer is securely clamped within the wheel assembly by means of the improved f-orm of hub herein provided. Further, the wheel of this invention eliminates the separate circular plates and securing disks of the prior art by providing shaft mounting means formed integrally with the clamping members of the wheel assembly and adapted to cooperate with a pair of mounting flanges for disposing the buier on a rotatable shaft.

The cloth buier of the buiiing wheel of the present invention may be selected from the numerous types of buiTlng wheel cloth constructions well known in the uart, although I prefer to employ buffers formed from a plurality of superimposed layers of elongated, bias-cut strips, gathered or pleated transversely and sewed longitudinally down the center. VThe strips are then folded into an annular configuration presenting free edges forming the actual buifing surface.

The hub assembly -of the buiiiing wheel of the present invention comprises generally a mounting plate adapted to overlie one side surface of the annular buffer in a position adjacent the inner periphery of the buffer. The plate is provided with a centrally located aperture defined by an integral cylindrical ilange and a plurality of projections or teeth formed about its outer periphery. The teeth of the plate are deformed to lie approximately normal to the plane of the disk and adapted to be passed through each layer of the buffer to project therebeyond. A ring, provided with circumferentially disposed apertures adapted to receive the teeth of the disk projecting beyond the side surface of the buffer, overlies the opposing side surface of the buffer and cooperates with the disk for securely clamping the buier within the bui'llng wheel assembly. The plate teeth are deformed to lie against the surface of the ring to maintain the cloth buffer tightly clamped in position between the disk and the ring. The assembled, complete bufiing wheel may then be mounted in a suitable manner upon a shaft cr arbor by means of the centrally located plate aperture strengthened by the cylindrical flange.

It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide an improved buffing wheel of simple design and manufacture in which a cloth buffer is secured to a pair of clamping members disposed on either side oi the buffer and adapted to be mounted on a shaft or arbor.

It is another important object of the present invention to provide a bufling wheel comprising a cloth buffer, a clamping plate overlying a portion of one side surface of the buffer, a ring overlying an opposed side surface of the buier, and clamping means carried by the plate and extending through the buffer into surface engagement with the ring to clamp the buffer between the plate and the ring.

It is still another important object of the present invention to provide an improved hub assembly for a cloth bufiing wheel including a circular plate and an annular ring adapted to overlie opposed sides of a buffer and interlocking means carried by the disk and the plate and extending completely through the buffer for securing said buffer in position therebetween.

It is a yet further important object of the present invention to provide a method ofY making a buimg wheel comprising the stamping of sheet metal to provide a disk having peripheral teeth and a metal ring having apertures corresponding to the teeth of the disk, bending the teeth at approximately 90 to the plane of the disk, positioning the disk and the ring on opposite sides of a cloth bui-ier, forcing the teeth through the buffer and the corresponding apertures formed in the ring, and bending the teeth against the surface of the ring to lock the buffer in position therebetwen.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a clamping member of the bufng wheel of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken along the plane II-II of Figure 1, showing in dotted outline a deformed position of the clamping member teeth;

Figure 3 is an enlarged, exploded sectional View showing the relative position of the clamping members prior to the assembly of the buffer and the members;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view similar to Figure 3, showing the relative position of the buffer and clamping members following assembly;

Figure 5 is an elevational view, with parts cut away, of a buffiing Wheel of the present invention; and

Figure 6 is a sectional view, with parts shown in elevation, of a plurality of buing wheels disposed on a shaft.

As shown on the drawings:

Reference numeral IU in Figures 5 and 6 refers generally to a buiiing wheel of the present invention comprising a cloth buffer II, a circular disk I2 and an annular ring I3.

As best shown in Figures 1 and 2, the disk I2 is generally circular in outline and is provided with a centrally located, integrally formed cylindrical flange i4 dening an aperture I6 concentric with the disk. An interior annular portion I6 of the disk I2, immediately surrounding the flange I4, is provided with a plurality of elongated, radially extending reinforcing ribs I'I symmetrically disposed about the flange I4. The outer peripheral portion I9 of the disk I2 is offset axially from the mean plane of the disk I2 as shown in Figure 2 with the portion I9 being joined to the interior portion I6 by an integral slanted annular portion I8. A plurality of radially extending teeth 20 are formed integrally with the disk I2, the teeth being uniformly and circumferentially disposed about the outer disk portion IS. The teeth 20, prior to assembly of the buffing wheel I0, are bent or deformed approximately 90 from the mean plane of the disk to surround the flange I4, as shown in dotted outline in Figure 2.

As may be seen from Figures 3-6, inclusive, the annular ring I3 is of slightly smaller outside diameter than the outside diameter of the disk I2 and is of approximately the same inside diameter as the annular buffer II. The ring I3 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures 2I, corresponding in location and approximate size to the teeth 2li deformed as in Figure 3. The inner peripheral portion 22 of ring I3 is axially deformed, as in Figure 3, for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The simple design of the disk I2 and the ring I3 makes possible the economical and expeditious manufacture of the bufng wheel of the present inl vention. For example, it is possible to stamp each of these clamping members from sheet metal by a single operation.

As has been hereinbefore explained, the cloth buffer II may be any of the numerous types of the annular bumng cloth constructions known in the art. However, it is preferred that annular buffers formed of a plurality of elongated bias cut strips be employed. Such buffers are generally prepared by transversely gathering or pleating a plurality of superimposed strips, sewing the strips longitudinally down the center as at Ila in Figures 3 and 4 and then doubling the strip upon itself along the sewed line. The doubled strip is then folded or pleated into an annular configuration having a smooth generally rounded inner periphery IIb to fit the buing wheel hub assembly.

As shown in Figure 3, the assembly of a cloth buffer on the hub may be easily accomplished by positioning the disk I2 and the ring I3 on opposed sides of the buffer I I and forcing the teeth 22 through the cloth buffer I I and the apertures 2 I, so that the end portions 20a of the teeth project beyond the annular ring II. Following the passing of the teeth through the buifer and the ring apertures 2|, the end portions 20a of the teeth are bent inwardly to lie against the outer surface of the ring I3. It will be seen in Figure 4 that the buffer II is securely retained between the disk i2 and the ring I3. The inner periphery I Ib of the buffer I I contacts the converging surfaces 22 and I8 as shown in Figure 4, while the adjacent side surfaces of the bulfer II are supported by the surface I9 and the ring I3 bearing thereagainst. Further, the annular buffer II is completely pierced by each of the teeth 22 to securely retain the buffer in position within the hub assembly. The teeth formed integrally with the disk and deformed against the ring provide a plurality of positive gripping elements spaced circumferentially about the entire inner peripheral portion of the buffer to tightly maintain the bui er in position within the buing wheel.

If desired, the design of the clamping members I2 and I3 may be simplied by straightening the slanted annular portion I8 and the axially deformed portion 22. All portions of each member thus lie in a single plane, with the exception of reinforcing ribs Il of disc I2 and the teeth 2Q when deformed as shown in Fig. 3. The clamping members thus formed contact only the sides of buler Il rather than the sides and inner periphery, as in Fig. 4.

Due to centrifugal forces set up during rotation of the wheel, a radially outward force will be exerted on the buffer and this force will be transmitted to that portion of the teeth 20 passing through the buffer II. Any deformation of the teeth under this stress will tend to pull the clamping members I2 and I3 more tightly against the buffer sides. Thus the centrifugal forces set up during the operation of the wheel increase the clamping of the buifer between the clamping members.

Another advantage of the present invention resides in the possibility of employing buffers of any desired thickness by merely changing the length of the teeth 2li.

During the use of the bufng wheel of the present invention, a considerable amount of heat is generated at the cloth buffing surface. This heat tends to pass to the center of the wheel where it is readily dissipated by the large, heat conductive mounted on certain other supports and so posisurface area of the disc. The passage of heat from the buffer to the disc is facilitated by the design of the buffer herein described, since no heat conductive material is interposed between the buffer and the disc and further since the disc itself is metallic and of thin cross-section to present a very efficient heat dissipating surface to the surrounding atmosphere.

As shown in Figure 6, a plurality of buffer wheels of the present invention may be mounted on a shaft or arbor, such as shaft 23, by means of the flange I4 formed integrally with the disk of each buing wheel. The shaft 23 is provided with an integral enlarged shoulder 24 against which a mounting flange 25 is placed. Flange 25 is of approximately the same diameter as ring I3 and is provided with a central cylindrical flange 25a defining an aperture 25h sized to receive shaft '23 therethrough. Following the positioning of flange 25 on the shaft 23 to abut shoulder 24, a plurality of buffer wheels I0 are placed on the shaft with the circular lip of the flange I4 of the innermost buffer wheel I0 abutting the lip of ange 25a. The remaining buffer wheels are then placed on the shaft 23 with the deformed portion a of the teeth 20 abutting the exterior surface I9 of the adjacent wheel l0 and the apertures l5 receiving the shaft `23. Following the assembly of the desired number of bufng wheels on the shaft 23 a second flange 2'5 is placed against the exposed surface of the outer bufhng wheel with the lip of its flange 25a abutting the central portion of the outermost disc l2 and its outer peripheral portion abutting the outer periphery of disc l2. A nut 26 is screwed upon the threaded outer end of the shaft 23 to maintain the assembled flanges 25 and buiiing wheels I0 on the shaft. The bufling wheels thus arranged to form a larger unit may then be employed in a conventional manner for bufling any desired surface.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A buil'ing wheel comprising a cloth buffer formed of a plurality of fabric layers pleated, sewn and folded into an annular configuration, a circular disk and an annular ring having their outer peripheral portions overlying opposed side surfaces of said buffer, said disk having circumferentially spaced teeth formed in its periphery and being centrally apertured to receive a shaft, said ring having circumferentially spaced apertures corresponding to said teeth, said teeth extending normally from said disk through each of said layers and said ring apertures and being deformed to lie against the outer surface of said ring, said teeth thus securing said ring, said plate, and said buffer against both radial shifting and axial separation.

2. A bufng wheel comprising a cloth buffer and a pair of clamping members having portions overlying opposed side surfaces of said buffer, one of said members having spaced teeth on its outer edge and the other of said members having spaced apertures corresponding to said teeth, said teeth extending through said buffer and the apertures in said second member and being deformed to lie against the outer surface of said second member to retain said buffer between said members against both radial shifting and axial separation.

3. In a bufling wheel having a cloth buffer mounted between opposed supporting members, means for maintaining said buffer in position between said members comprising spaced teeth formed on one of said members and extending completely through said buffer, said second member having spaced apertures formed therein corresponding to said teeth on said first member and adapted to receive said teeth therethrough, said teeth being deformed against said second member to securely clamp said buifer between said members against both radial shifting and axial separation.

4. In a bufng wheel having a cloth buffer formed of a plurality of fabric layers, means for maintaining said layers in operable position upon a rotatable shaft comprising a disk and an annular ring having their outer peripheral portions overlying opposed side surfaces of said buffer, said disk having circumferentially spaced teeth formed in its periphery and being apertured to receive the shaft, said ring having circumferentially spaced apertures corresponding to said teeth, the teeth extending from said disk at right angles to the plane of the disk through said buier layers and said ring apertures and being deformed to lie against the outer surface of said ring said teeth thus securing said ring, said plate, and said buer into an integral assembly and preventing both radial shifting and axial separation.

5. A buing wheel comprising a cloth buffer and a pair of clamping members having portions overlying opposed side surfaces of said buffer, one of said members having integrally formed pointed projections extending completely through said buffer into interlocking engagement with the other of said members to secure said buffer in position between said members, said pointed projections thus preventing both radial shifting and axial separation of said members and said bulfer.

ARTHUR B. STAFFORD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS A Y Date 

